Systems and methods for integrating a logo on an infrared burner

ABSTRACT

Infrared burners are disclosed herein that can be configured to integrate a glowing design, pattern, logo, or text. In various embodiments, ports located on portions of the surface of a ceramic plate are varied in size. Infrared radiation emitted by particular portions of the ceramic plate can thereby be varied to provide for emphasis or de-emphasis of certain portions of an infrared burner. The emphasized or deemphasized portions of the infrared burner can be used to depict designs, patterns, logos, or text. Furthermore, one or more designs, patterns, logos, or text can be integrated.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention disclosed herein relates generally to infrared burners, including but not limited to infrared burners for use in grills. More particularly, the disclosure relates to systems and methods for integrating designs, patterns, logos, or text on an infrared burner.

2. Background of the Invention

Unlike conventional gas burners, infrared burners are capable of efficiently radiating heat at high temperatures (e.g., 450 to 900° F.) over the entire surface of the burner. In addition, unlike conventional gas burners, infrared burners are capable of quickly reaching and adjusting the target temperature of the burner. For example, infrared burners are capable of reaching temperatures over 700° F. in as little as seven minutes. Accordingly, infrared burners are particularly suitable for cooking food.

Some infrared burners operate by focusing the flame of a conventional gas burner onto a ceramic tile that has numerous small ports. This converts heat from the flame into infrared energy. The heat produced is of much higher intensity and is more persistent than that produced by a conventional gas burner.

Although infrared burners provide superior cooking capabilities to conventional gas burners, it is generally difficult to incorporate a design, pattern, or logo on the ceramic surface of an infrared burner. Moreover, existing infrared burners are generally manufactured to have a flat surface in order to radiate heat evenly. Existing manufacturing methods do not incorporate a design, pattern, logo, or text into the infrared burner itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, an infrared burner comprises a ceramic surface; wherein the ceramic surface comprises a first plurality of ports and a second plurality of ports, the second plurality of ports having an average size greater than the first plurality of ports; and wherein the second plurality of ports are arranged relative to the first plurality of ports such that during operation of the infrared burner a glowing logo is formed.

In some embodiments, a method of forming a logo on an infrared burner comprises forming a first plurality of ports on the ceramic surface of an infrared burner; forming a second plurality of ports on the ceramic surface of an infrared burner to have an average size that is greater than the average size of the first plurality of ports; and arranging the second plurality of ports relative to the first plurality of ports such that during operation of the infrared burner a glowing logo is formed.

In some embodiments, an infrared burner comprises a ceramic surface, wherein the ceramic surface comprises a plurality of ports having substantially uniform cross-sectional area; and wherein the height or thickness of the ceramic surface is varied to form a logo that glows during operation of the infrared burner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an infrared burner as used in a cooking device.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an infrared burner according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is another illustration of an infrared burner according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is another illustration of an infrared burner according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An infrared burner is disclosed herein that can be used in a cooking device, among other things. For example, FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an infrared burner 100 as used in a cooking device 10. The infrared burner 100 can be used to heat food on the grilling surface of a cooking platform 20. An igniter 40 can be used to ignite the infrared burner 100, while an infrared burner control knob 30 can be used to adjust the heat output of the infrared burner. In addition, infrared burner 100 can have a curved shape to correspond to the shape of a grilling surface. In other embodiments, the infrared burner 100 can have a rectangular shape, or any other shape.

While in operation, the surface of an infrared burner 100 can glow with radiant energy. This radiant energy can be visible to the operator of the cooking device when the operator looks at the burner 100 or through open slots in the grill.

FIG. 2 illustrates an infrared burner 100 according to some embodiments. As shown, the infrared burner 100 can include a gas port 110 for supplying gas such as propane to the interior of the infrared burner 100. The infrared burner 100 can also include an igniter 120 for igniting the supplied gas and mounting brackets 130 for mounting the infrared burner 100 to another surface, such as a grill or barbeque. In addition, the infrared burner 100 can include a plate 115 surrounding the edge of the top surface of the burner. Holes in the plate can provide for screws 140 to be used to secure the plate 115 to the infrared burner 100. Also, the plate 115 can be used to hold a wire mesh (not shown) in place. A wire mesh can be used to protect delicate components of the infrared burner 100 such as ceramic plates 160. As is further shown in FIG. 2, the infrared burner 100 can include ceramic plates 160. The ceramic plates 160 can be separated by grooves 150. In some embodiments, a single ceramic plate may be provided instead of several ceramic plates. In such embodiments, separating grooves 150 generally would not be present.

Ceramic plates 160 generally include numerous ports 170 arranged on the surface of the ceramic plates 160. Although “port” or “ports” is used through this disclosure, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other equivalent terms can be used such as holes, slits, slots, or perforations. In addition, while the ports are frequently circular, any shape of port may be used, including square, rectangular, oval, and other shapes.

In preferred embodiments, the infrared burner 100 radiates heat as follows. Gas exiting the ports 170 is ignited, burns, and heats the ceramic plates 160. Ceramic plates 160 convert the heat into infrared radiation, which is invisible to a human eye. The infrared radiation provided by the ceramic plates is more energy dense, more persistent, and more evenly distributed than energy produced by a conventional gas burner. In some embodiments, the ceramic plates 160 can be manufactured from quick cooling materials, including glass, quartz, non-oxide or ceramic oxide. Accordingly, the infrared burner is capable of evenly radiating heat at high temperatures for a desired duration while also being capable of responding to changes in temperature.

In preferred embodiments, the infrared burner 100 can be configured to display a logo that glows when the ceramic plates 160 are heated above a certain temperature. As used herein in this disclosure: “logo” or “logos” shall be defined broadly to include any conventional logo as well as any design, pattern, text, or other visual indicia.

FIG. 3 illustrates an infrared burner 100 according to some embodiments of the invention. As is shown in FIG. 3, the ceramic plates 160 can include across their surface a combination of large ports 180 that have a greater diameter than the small ports 190. The large ports 180 enable greater gas flow than the small ports 190 and burn at a hotter temperature. As a result, the surface of the ceramic plates 160 surrounding large ports 180 can emit a different glow than that emitted by the surface of ceramic plates 160 surrounding small ports 190. By controlling the location of large ports 180 and small ports 190, glowing logos can be formed during operation of the infrared burner 100.

As is shown in FIG. 3, the location of small ports 190 and large ports 180 can be varied across the surface of the ceramic plates 160 to introduce a logo that depicts the following: letter “H” (200), letter “E” (210), letters “L” (220 and 230), letter “F” (240), fire symbol representing letter “I” (250), letter “R” (260), and letter “E” (270). The illustrated logo is intended to depict the word “HELLFIRE.”

As is shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the ceramic plates 160 can be embossed to introduce a logo, such as the following: letter “H” (400), letter “E” (410), letters “L” (420 and 430), letter “F” (440), fire symbol representing letter “I” (450), letter “R” (460), and letter “E” (470). The illustrated logo is intended to depict the word “HELLFIRE.” As shown, ports on the main flat ceramic surface 480 can be substantially uniform in size. Similarly, ports on the embossed top portion 484 of the ceramic surface can be substantially uniform in size. Ceramic side wall portions 482 can connect the main flat ceramic surface 480 with the embossed top portion 484 of the ceramic surface of each logo. The embodiments illustrated in FIG. 4 can produce a glow that shows the outline of each letter of the word “HELLFIRE.”

It should be appreciated that ports of additional ranges in size can be similarly used to create glowing logos. For example, rather than vary in size between only a smaller size and a larger size, the ports can be varied in size incrementally and continuously to produce a smoother transition to the edges of a logo. However, when it is desired that a glowing logo have sharp edges, it may be desired to vary the port size in discreet and greater amounts to create the logo. It can also be appreciated that ports of varying sizes can be distributed to create only an outline of a logo.

In some embodiments, the ceramic plates 160 can have contoured (i.e., non-flat) and flat surface portions. For example, portions of the surfaces can be raised, embossed, debossed, or slightly varied in order to cause the logo to glow and become distinguishable from the flat portions of the surfaces. Such variations in the surface can cause the ports 170 located in contoured portions to have larger sizes than the ports located on the flat portions of the ceramic plates. Due to the difference in sizes of the ports 170, contoured portions of the surface can be heated to a different temperature and can thereby produce infrared radiation of a different intensity as the flat surfaces. In various embodiments, the surface of the ceramic surrounding contoured portions can be heated to a higher temperature and can produce a particular glow, whereas the surface of the ceramic surrounding non-contoured portions can be heated to a lower temperature and produce a different glow.

In some embodiments, the ports 170 can be configured such that different sized combustion ports will glow in a different manner. For example, the ports 170 can have non-uniform diameters. Due to the difference in diameters of the ports 170, surfaces of the ceramic plates 160 surrounding the ports will be heated to a different temperature and will thereby produce a different glow.

In other embodiments, the ports can be of uniform size. For example, a top view of the ceramic surface of an infrared burner would show that the cross-sectional area of the ports can remain approximately the same. In these embodiments, a logo may be formed by varying only the height or thickness of the ceramic surface while keeping the size of the ports constant. For example, portions of a ceramic surface can be raised or lowered relative to the surrounding ceramic surface to create a glowing logo.

In some embodiments, multiple logos, designs, text, or other indicia can be integrated, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, particular logos can glow depending on the temperature to which the ceramic plates 160 are heated. In various embodiments, the shape, size, configuration, or pattern of the ports 170 can be varied to integrate different logos.

In some embodiments, the ceramic plates 160 can be formed to include additional materials other than ceramic that would aid in visibility of a logo. For example, other materials, such as glass, copper, fired ceramic or any other material that has different thermal properties could be inlaid on the ceramic surface. The different thermal properties of such materials would alter the visible appearance on the surface of the infrared burner corresponding to these materials, such that a visible logo would be formed during operation of the infrared burner.

The features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Although this invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including embodiments which do not provide all of the benefits and features set forth herein, are also within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined only by reference to the appended claims. 

1. An infrared burner comprising: a ceramic surface; wherein the ceramic surface comprises a first plurality of ports and a second plurality of ports, the second plurality of ports having an average size greater than the first plurality of ports; and wherein the second plurality of ports are arranged relative to the first plurality of ports such that during operation of the infrared burner a glowing logo is formed.
 2. The infrared burner of claim 1, wherein the logo comprises text.
 3. The infrared burner of claim 2, wherein the text forms the word “HELLFIRE.”
 4. The infrared burner of claim 1, wherein the logo comprises a design.
 5. The infrared burner of claim 1, wherein the size of the first plurality of ports and the size of the second plurality of ports are varied on a flat ceramic surface.
 6. The infrared burner of claim 1, wherein the size of the first plurality of ports and the size of the second plurality of ports are varied by forming a raised or embossed portion on the ceramic surface.
 7. The infrared burner of claim 1, wherein the ceramic surface comprises a third plurality of ports having an average size between the average size of the first plurality of ports and the average size of the second plurality of ports.
 8. A method of forming a logo on an infrared burning comprising: forming a first plurality of ports on the ceramic surface of an infrared burner; forming a second plurality of ports on the ceramic surface of an infrared burner to have an average size that is greater than the average size of the first plurality of ports; and arranging the second plurality of ports relative to the first plurality of ports such that during operation of the infrared burner a glowing logo is formed.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the logo comprises text.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the text forms the word “HELLFIRE.”
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the logo comprises a design.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the size of the first plurality of ports and the size of the second plurality of ports are varied on a flat ceramic surface.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the size of the first plurality of ports and the size of the second plurality of ports are varied by forming a raised or embossed portion on the ceramic surface.
 14. The method of claim 8, further comprising forming a third plurality of ports on the ceramic surface having an average size between the average size of the first plurality of ports and the average size of the second plurality of ports.
 15. An infrared burner comprising: a ceramic surface, wherein the ceramic surface comprises a plurality of ports having substantially uniform cross-sectional area; and wherein the height of the ceramic surface is varied to form a logo that glows during operation of the infrared burner.
 16. The infrared burner of claim 15, wherein the logo comprises text.
 17. The infrared burner of claim 16, wherein the text forms the word “HELLFIRE.”
 18. The infrared burner of claim 15, wherein the logo comprises a design. 